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You’ll often read me mention on the blog throughout the years about lost points that the Penguins wish they had come April.
This game was like that, but to the Penguins benefit.
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton wins 4-3 in Allentown Friday, after coughing up a 3-0 lead Lehigh Valley rallies for two in the second and one in the third but its’ Sam Poulin scoring with 1:29 left in the third to rally past and bust up the run that the host Phantoms were on.
Obvious and clear and huge two points for the Penguins, who keep pace with Hartford and Providence, winners in their respective contests also. More on them in a bit.
Here’s how they lined up…
Lineup Notes: Will Butcher was traded to Minnesota. In return the Pittsburgh Penguins received Maxim Cajkovic, who will likely head to Wheeling. Taylor Fedun replaced Butcher in the lineup. The Penguins now have seven veterans with the departure of Butcher. You can only dress six. Goalies do not count.
First Period: Like Wednesday, they started on time and led 3-0 on a power play goal by Jesse Puljujarvi, Marc Johnstone and Sam Poulin.
Defensive breakdown by the Phantoms here and a guy with Puljujarvi’s offensive acumen isn’t going to miss those.
Buddy if you get a guy like Marc Johnstone going like this on a nightly basis the sky is the limit for this team.
I think it’s (redacted) or get off the pot time for Poulin, and I think he spent last night at the Taco Bell.
Second Period: Phantoms respond for two goals, including a late power play goal by Bobby Brink with :28 to play in the period you could kind of see coming.
System breakdown there. I think they did everything right but somehow go it wrong.
Too much standing around for my liking. What is it about the Lehigh Valley power play against the Penguins penalty kill?
Third Period: Didn’t want to see Brink score the power play goal because they rode that momentum to a game tying goal by Adam Brooks.
I don’t know what the hell happened there but the Penguins were way too slow to react to whatever it was that hit them. Did you get the license plate of that truck that just hit you doing 75 on the interstate, Alice?
But here’s where I think the tell tale sign of whatever it was that ailed them last year or in parts the first quarter of the season is out of their system. This is the type of game that last year they lose and maybe in October or November they lose. Not here. They found a way to win.
That’s some dogged determination by Marc Johnstone and Radim Zohorna who set Poulin up for the finish right there.
With Felix Sandstrom pulled for the extra attacker, the Phantoms did not find the equalizer.
Three Stars: 3) Adam Brooks (goal) 2) Bobby Brink (goal) 1) Sam Poulin (two goals, assist, 17 PIMs)
Honorable mentions go to Marc Johnstone who had a goal and the assist on the GWG and Jesse Puljujarvi who also had a goal and an assist and Radim Zohorna who had two assists.
The Good: Sam Poulin, in addition to the offense, picked up an instigator, fight and misconduct in the second period with a fight with Garrett Wilson and still went out and scored the GWG. You love to see it.
The Bad: If this is Hershey, is the result the same? I don’t think so.
Turning Point: Poulin’s game winner with 1:29. They weren’t booing at the PPL Center, they were “Pooooouuuu–ling”
Around the Division: Hartford goes to North Division leading Cleveland and wins 4-2….Providence doubles up Bridgeport 6-3 and Springfield gets off the skids with a 3-1 win against Charlotte.
Standings: Hershey 66 – Providence 53 – Penguins 51 – Hartford 47 – Charlotte 44 – Springfield 43 – Lehigh Valley 40 – Bridgeport 27
Wheeling Update: The Nailers smoked the Reading Royals 8-3. Isaac Belliveau with a goal and two assists. Jordan Martel had a hat trick and an assist. Lukas Svejkovsky with a pair of assists. Taylor Gauthier had all the run support he needed, stopping 21.
Video Highlights: Not up yet. I may check in the morning or you can head to the AHL Video Center.
Hershey Saturday. Should be fun.
Let’s Go Pens!
WBS News
Chirps from Center Ice 